To my Co-Commissioners, and the gentleman selected _by them_ as the Secretary of the Commission, who are all highly respectable Citizens of Illinois:--to the full Journal of all our proceedings:--to the many distinguished citizens of Illinois, Indiana and the surrounding country:--to every honourable man who was present during the Council, among whom are Mr. Daniel Jackson of New York--and Mr. Robert Stewart, the Agent of the American Fur Company at Michilimackinac, both of whom I understand to be now in Washington, and whose characters are known to you, I appeal with confidence, for a refutation of these slanders.[113] The suggestion that extra allowances have been made to me for extra services is not disputed, being an usage of the Government from its first institution. The labors I have performed and the fatigues I have undergone, in this tour, over roads almost impassable, and during a continuation of the most unfavorable weather, teach me to believe that I have honestly earned all that the Rule of Department will allow: But the vile and mean insinuation appended, and which none but an utterly corrupt heart could generate, that I have _sold_ my patronage, does not require an answer. In reference to the claims or accounts contained in the Schedules annexed to the Treaty, to some of which particular exception has been taken, I proceed, in explanation, to state: That in furtherance of the policy of the Government to remove these Indians West of the Mississippi, the Commissioners refused to grant Reservations of land, although these were greatly preferred, but agreed, in lieu thereof, that a part of the _consideration money_ should be apportioned among such individuals as the Indians chose to designate. In like manner another part of the consideration money, the _amount_ of which was fixed, was to be applied in satisfaction of claims, which, on examination, should be admitted by the Indians to be justly divided. Who, so well as they, could tell whether they were indebted to an individual or not? But to protect themselves against unfounded claims, many of which were presented, the Chiefs and head men employed a gentleman of high standing and respectability, as their assistant, and asked permission that he might be present at the investigation of the claims. This gentleman was Richard E. Hamilton, Esq.,[114] of Chicago--in whom these Indians reposed unbounded confidence--They farther requested that Major Forsyth, for whom they professed a like regard, and who was familiarly known to them, should aid their friend Col. Hamilton in the duty confided to him. Impressed, as all were, with the character of the two gentlemen for integrity and honor, so reasonable a request was not denied.--In the presence of the Chiefs and those Assistants, the commissioners proceeded in the examination of the numerous claims, the _decision_ on each claim being made by the commissioners; by all of them; and by them _alone_; and the amount